The Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions.

It is a large bird, standing 90-100 cm tall, with a 175-195 cm wingspan and a weight of 1-2 kg. Its plumage is largely grey above, and off-white below. Adults have a white head with a broad black supercilium and slender crest, while immatures have a dull grey head. It has a powerful pinkish-yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults. It has a slow flight, with its long neck retracted (S-shaped). This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.

The Black Crowned Night Heron is a relatively smaller bird, and as the name suggests, nocturnal.The Black crowned Night Heron has a black beak, and the Grey has a yellow. The Grey Heron also posssses the black patch on its shoulder, as seen in the photo. The Black Crowned Night Heron has a cap of solid black on its head, but in the photo we can see a bit of white on the very top of the head.

1. Grey Heron, again the lighter bill and general coloration of the bird differentiates it from Black-Headed Heron. Grey Herons are also associated with water whilst the Black-Headed variety are more of a grassveld species.

2. Again, the association with water and the yellow (not black) bill points to Grey Heron.

I see nothing has yet been said about the diet of the Grey Heron! According to the Roberts Bird Guide they munch mainly fish, but also other waterstuff and little birdies. Small rodents are also mentioned.

Small rodents?

In 2006 a Dutch amateur photographer made it into national and international newspapers with THIS PHOTO.